Chickens locked away?

[orchard]

I read somewhere earlier that DEFRA implemented the system that the French used last year, but as it didn't work/wasn't effective they haven't used it this year. Any thoughts?

 

[uztrac]

Lots of chickens out and about here in North Norfolk.Cunning cock pheasants also know the season is over and are about in abundance as cover strips are cut down.

 

[Dry Rot]

It sends a very clear message on how biosecurity notifications from DEFRA can be treated in the future.

"Rember the bird flu precautions? It'll just be another one of those. Ignore it and it'll go away".

Like road signs for non-existent road works. We slow down for the first half dozen signs, then ignore them because we know it is just the roads department fogetting to collect them up after the work was finished -- weeks ago!!

 

[Castle Farm]

The last scare we had a few years ago DEFRA contacted me and I spent over £450 on sheeting to cover my breeding pens up and took nearly a week to do it.
The same week they emptied a poultry shed a few miles away and dumped all the manure and waste on a field just up the road..Tons of it..Every crow in the area was on it for days..
It's a waste of time unless you can ensure total security.

 

[Fleeced]

I've housed my free rangers. It's a pain. But at least I'm doing my bit and keeping my own flock safe. And showing consideration for others who have poultry.

 

[Exfarmer]

It is unfair to be blaming Defra in this way. They are well aware that many domestic chickens are often treated as close pets by families. A reispratory nurse told me how a young female patient of hers who had asthma problems was found to be taking her chicken to bed with her!
I have personally seen families allow poultry to share a sofa and watch television.
This is ideal conditions for bird flu to make the jump to humans, with possibly massive consequences for all of us.
I appreciate that poultry workers will be at greater risk but , I believe they have flu jabs available and will be closely monitored if they go down with flu.

 

[Fleeced]

People don't seem to realise that it is the mutation that is the greater risk. No doubt those who don't take the advised precautions will still blame someone else when there is a human pandemic.

 

[orchard]

Personally, I think DEFRA have been fairly poor and lack clarity and consistency on this problem.

As pointed out above, their's the risk of mutation, so ALL human contact with birds in the open (imo) should have been subject to sensible strict bio-measures, including domestic feeders, shoots, wildfowl reserves, etc..
Also, they should also have highlighted the standing water/feeding issues more initially, ensuring ALL were protected from sharing with domesticated animals, cleaned daily, and acidified for livestock.

I'm also not sure about out-sourcing a high percentage of the monitoring to wild-life trusts is a sound idea either, it ought to be independent imo.

 

[Foregoneconclusion]

We've done our best to keep our chooks in by putting a net tunnel up but as per most we have very persistent pheasants who try to share water and feed..through the netting.. so contact is likely.. the restrictions are to help reduce the risk of wild birds infecting our chooks..and then our chooks infecting us..the chances are small probably.But we gotta do it. My chooks are not impressed..they've reduced egg output to 1 or 3 a day..from 9 of them.
Must have stressed the hell out of them poor things.

 

[Lincs Lass]

My neighbor was asking if her big cockerel had been in the yard as she hasnt seen it for three weeks .
Ive a fair idea where it went

 

[Fleeced]

He looks delicious!

 

[Lincs Lass]

Theres a lot of his mates have gone the same way, either frazzled or frozen

 

[Netherfield]

At least we've established, @Lincs Lass likes a big cock

 

[ski]

I have just come home from a very pleasant evening with a number of the farming community. All of whom regard the DEATHRA edict as BOLLO*ks.The main reason being this; If you have a healthy flock of poultry well kept, free range and with access to clean water there should be absolutely no issue. Penning them in will only cause stress which as has been proved is detrimental to any animals health.

Fine if you keep your animals in a tiny three foot space in semi-darkness with only limited access to the outside world or in pens where they cannot even turn around in but to those who have ethics and keep their animals in quality conditions this really is not an issue.
SS

I respect your right to voice an opinion but to state it will only be caught by birds living in poor conditions is absolute and complete rubbish with no basis in fact. It is like saying only people living in poor housing catch flu. Plenty of healthy people catch flu. You show no regard for those that make their living (as I do) from the poultry industry and you no regard for other's interests. Shame on you.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I respect your right to voice an opinion but to state it will only be caught by birds living in poor conditions is absolute and complete rubbish with no basis in fact. It is like saying only people living in poor housing catch flu. Plenty of healthy people catch flu. You show no regard for those that make their living (as I do) from the poultry industry and you no regard for other's interests. Shame on you.

An awful lot simlpy aren't healthy! One of the folk in the discussion is a professional poultry farmer in a niche market so I respect his view more than most. He also put forward some alternative theories which would cause offence so I'm not posting these. Keeeping large numbers of ANYTHING in close quarters is a huge risk. Pheasants are one, no one moves the pens today as they rely on chemical 'dosing' to cure what was, in laymans terms as 'the gapes'. You have to admit this. I bet there is a specific dose for the drinkers in a poultry shed too??? By the way I do have an interest as I have occasional work in the poultry industry so I'm not completely ignorant.

There are a number of poultry operations that need to put their house in order re how they keep their animals. This is a big part of 'ethical investment'. If you won't/cant, no further indepandant ethical investor will be giving over their $'s £'s or any other currency for that matter.
SS